Observing the fall in his crockery, and the general confusion of things, the Colonel quietly asked, 'What's to pay?'
I said nothing, but burst into a fit of laughter at the awkward fix the Overseer was in. That gentleman also said nothing, but looked as if he would like to find vent through a rat-hole or a window-pane. Jim, however, who stood at the back of my chair, gave his eloquent thoughts utterance, very much as follows:—
'Moye hab 'sulted Massa K——, Cunnel, awful bad. He hab swore a blue streak at him, and called him a d—— ab'lishener, jess 'cause Massa K—— wudn't get mad and sass him back. He hab disgrace your hosspital, Cunnel, wuss dan a nigga.'
The Colonel turned white with rage, and, striding up to the Overseer, seized him by the throat, yelling, rather than speaking, these words: 'You d—— —— —— —— —— —— ——, have you dared to insult a guest in my house?'
'I didn't mean to 'sult him,' faltered out the Overseer, his voice running through an entire octave, and changing with the varying pressure of the Colonel's fingers on his throat; 'but he said he war an ab'lishener.'
'No matter what he said,' replied the Colonel; 'he is my guest, and in my house he shall say what he pleases, by G——. Apologize to him, or I'll send you to h—— in a second.'
The fellow turned cringingly to me, and ground out something like this, every word seeming to give him the toothache:—
'I meant no offence, sar; I hope ye'll excuse me.'
This satisfied me, but, before I could make a reply, the Colonel again seized him by the throat, and yelled,—
'None of your sulkiness; get on your knees, you d—— white-livered hound, and ask the gentleman's pardon like a man.'